In this author’s previous article, ajjmackenzie.co.uk explored the relationship that natural disasters and environmental change has had on warfare in history. In comparison, there have been a number of wars which have changed the environment in disastrous ways. Purposeful destruction of environmental resources, modifying the environment itself and policies exerting far-reaching, climatic changes have all been a consequence of warfare in history. In the case of the following conflicts, there were irrevocable effects placed upon the environment, to the detriment of those peoples living within them and the ecology as a whole.

Social, economic and cultural influences have all been attributed to the outbreak of many wars in history. To many, the idea of natural catastrophes such as volcanoes, earthquakes and droughts leading to warfare is an absurd notion. Politicians, despots and uprisings are often seen as the main cause of warfare. However, in the case of the following conflicts, one of the main causes of warfare was as a result of a natural disaster.